Les protéines kinases sont responsables de la phosphorylation des protéines, une modification post-traductionnelle qui contrôle ainsi de manière très efficace et presque instantanée une multitude de processus cellulaires. Elles sont impliquées dans la régulation des voies métaboliques dans les organismes permettant leurs adaptations aux changements environnementaux. Chez les procaryotes, l'existence de sérine/thréonine et tyrosine kinases est resté pendant longtemps un sujet de controverse. Cependant, au cours des deux dernières décennies, de nombreuses études ont montré que ces types de phosphorylation (Ser/Thr/Tyr) existent chez les bactéries et sont impliqués dans la régulation d'une grande variété de processus biologiques. En plus de protéines kinases apparentés à des enzymes eucaryotes, les bactéries ont également des protéines kinases spécifiques n’ayant aucune ressemblance structurale avec des protéines eucaryotes ce qui, lorsqu’elles sont essentielles, les qualifient en tant que cible pour de nouveaux agents antimicrobiens. YdiB est une nouvelle protéine kinase bactérienne de Bacillus subtilis. La localisation d’YdiB a été étudiée par immunofluorescence révélant sa présence à proximité de la membrane plasmique. L'interaction d’YdiB avec les phospholipides a été étudiée par des essais de flottation et résonance plasmonique de surface. Ceci révèle la présence d'une interaction stable et forte entre la kinase et deux phospholipides: la phosphatidylsérine et la phosphatidyléthanolamine. En outre, la constante d'affinité (KD) entre YdiB et la phosphatidylsérine a été identifiée et est de l’ordre de 13.3x10-9 M. De plus, ces deux phospholipides, ainsi que leur têtes polaires, sont capables d'induire de manière significative l'autophosphorylation d’YdiB.Par ailleurs, le rôle d’YdiB dans la croissance bactérienne en particulier lors d’un stress oxydant a également été étudié dans la souche sauvage et dans le mutant ∆ydiB. Dans des conditions de stress oxydant, la souche ∆ydiB est incapable de survivre alors qu’une complémentation conditionnelle de ce mutant a permis de restaurer un profil de croissance normale de la bactérie. Cela révèle le rôle important joué par YdiB dans la résistance bactérienne au stress oxydant. En outre, des protéines impliquées dans la résistance au stress oxydant comme la superoxide dismutase F (SodF) et superoxide dismutase A (SodA) ont été testés comme substrats potentiels pour YdiB. Par des tests de trans-phosphorylation, nous avons pu montrer que SodA pourrait être un substrat potentiel pour YdiB expliquant ainsi son implication dans la résistance au stress oxydatif dans Bacillus subtilis. / Protein kinases are responsible of protein phosphorylation, a post-translational modification and a very effective and almost instantaneous control of a multitude of cellular processes. They are involved in the regulation of metabolic pathways in living organisms enabling their adaptation to environmental changes. In prokaryotes, the existence of serine/threonine and tyrosine kinases was, for a long time, a subject of controversy. However, over the past two decades, many studies have shown that these types of phosphorylation (Ser/Thr/Tyr) do exist in bacteria and are involved in the regulation of a wide variety of biological processes. In addition to protein kinases related to eukaryotic enzymes, bacteria also have some specific protein kinases having no structural resemblance to their eukaryotic homologues which, if essential, made them a possible target for new antimicrobial agents. YdiB is a novel bacterial protein kinase from Bacillus subtilis. In situ localisation of YdiB has been studied by immunofluorescence which reveals its presence near the plasma membrane. The interaction of YdiB with the membrane phospholipids was assessed by flotation assay and surface plasmon resonance demonstrating the presence of a stable and strong interaction between the kinase and two phospholipids: phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylethanolamine. In addition, the affinity constant (KD) between YdiB and phosphatidylserine was found to be equal to 13.3 x 10-9 M. Moreover, these two phospholipids or just their charged headgroups were able to significantly induce the autophosphorylation of YdiB.On the other hand, the role of YdiB in the bacterial growth especially under oxidative stress was also studied in the wild-type strain and in ∆ydiB mutant. Under oxidative stress conditions, the deleted strain was unable to survive whereas a conditional complementation of ∆ydiB mutant was able to restore a normal growth profile for the bacterium. This reveals the important role played by YdiB in the bacterial resistance to oxidative stress. In addition, protein involved in the resistance to oxidative stress like Superoxide dismutase F (SodF) and superoxide dismutase A (Sod A) were tested as potential substrates for YdiB. Doing the trans-phosphorylation assay, we were able to prove that Sod B could be a potential substrate for YdiB thus explaining its involvement in the resistance to oxidative stress in Bacillus subtilis.

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / Decline cognitive related to neurodegenerative diseases are very commom in patients, probably in function of aging. Since there are few effectives therapeutics approaches to loss memory treatment, but studies about new therapeutics approaches are necessary regarding neuroprotective drugs. Thus, recent works have been showing the efficacy of some neuroprotective compounds like creatine (Cr) in treatment of patients and experimental models with memory defcit. Creatine is a guanidine compound synthesized from glycine, arginine and S-adenosylmethionine in the kidneys, liver and brain that have been presented neuroprotective and neuromodulatory effect in the central nervous systems. Some works suggest that guanidine compounds like Cr could enhance learning by modulation polyamines binding sites at the N-methyl-D-Aspartate (NMDA) receptor and act as energetic buffer intracellular. In these context, the propose of this work was investigate the involvement of Cr transporter (CreaT), cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) and Ca2+/ calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) signaling pathway in the spatial learning after intrahippocampal injection of Cr. After training on Barnes Maze, Cr and/or 3-GPA (inhibitor CreaT), Cr and/or H-89 (PKA inhibitor), Cr and/or STO-609, (inhibitor of CaMKII) bilateral intrahipocappus administration was performed. The results showed that intrahippocampal administration of 3-GPA, H-89 and STO-609 attenuated the facilitatory effect of Cr on spatial learnig performed on barnes Maze. Therefore, we decide investigate the involvement of the PKA (pPKA), CaMKII (pCaMKII) and CREB (pCREB) activation after intrahippocampus creatine administration in rats trained on Barnes Maze. The results showed that Cr enhanced pCREB levels and pCaMKII levels. Thirty minutes after creatine administration was observed pCREB an pCaMKII levels enhancement, on the other hand, pPKA levels enhancement was not observed. These data suggest that spatial learning enhancement elicited by Cr may be mediated by trans-cellular creatine transports, as well, CaMKII/CREB intracellular pathway in rat hippocampus / O declínio cognitivo associado a doenças neurodegenerativas é um sintoma cada vez mais comum encontrado em pacientes, provavelmente devido ao aumento da expectativa de vida da população. Dada a escassez de medidas terapêuticas efetivas para o déficit de memória apresentado por pacientes, evidencia-se a importância da busca de novos compostos e do estudo de seus mecanismos de ação. Nesse contexto, recentes estudos mostraram a eficácia de algumas substâncias com ação neuroprotetora, como a creatina (Cr), na terapia de pacientes com déficit de memória e em modelos experimentais. A Cr é um composto guanidínico sintetizado endogenamente nos rins, fígado, pâncreas e cérebro, que apresenta ação neuroprotetora e neuromoduladora no sistema nervoso central. Estudos mostram que a administração de compostos guanidínicos, como a Cr, podem estar relacionados com a melhora da memória devido à interação com o sítio das poliaminas no receptor N-metil-D-Aspartato (NMDA) e por atuar como tampão energético intracelular. Neste contexto, o objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o envolvimento do transportador de Cr (CreaT), das proteínas quinases dependente de AMPc (PKA) e dependente de Ca2+/calmodulina II (CaMKII) na melhora do aprendizado espacial induzido por Cr no hipocampo de ratos. Após o treino no labirinto de Barnes, os ratos foram injetados no hipocampo, bilateralmente, com Cr e/ou 3-ácido guanidinico propiônico (3-GPA, um inibidor do transportador de creatina); Cr e/ou [N-[2-(p-Bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline sulfonamide, Di-HCl Salt] (H-89, um inibidor da PKA); Cr e/ou 1,8-Naphthoylene benzimidazole-3- carboxylic acid (STO-609, um inibidor da CaMKII). A administração de 3-GPA, H-89 e STO-609 diminuiu o efeito facilitatório da Cr na memória espacial de ratos, observado no teste do labirinto de Barnes. De acordo com esses resultados, decidimos investigar o envolvimento da ativação do elemento de ligação responsivo ao AMPc (pCREB), PKA (pPKA) e CaMKII (pCaMKII) após a administração de Cr no hipocampo de animais treinados no labirinto de Barnes. Trinta minutos após a injeção de Cr, foi observado um aumento nos níveis de pCREB e pCaMKII, mas não nos níveis de pPKA no hipocampo de ratos. Estes achados sugerem que a facilitação do aprendizado espacial induzido pela Cr depende do seu transporte para o meio intracelular, assim como, envolve a via de sinalização celular da CaMKII/CREB no hipocampo de ratos.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-02T20:21:35Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 6077.pdf: 10672804 bytes, checksum: 8a7ba5e1820e96664e3cbb7f872f6f3e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-10-28 / Financiadora de Estudos e Projetos / Over the recent years, the incidence of human fungal infections has shown a significant increase. Aspergillus fumigatus is a filamentous fungus opportunistic pathogen responsible for many human respiratory diseases, including invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, which is the most serious form of infection . Studies show that A. fumigatus virulence has a multifactorial process associated with its structure, capacity for growth, adaptation to stress conditions, evasion mechanisms of the immune system and ability to cause harm to the host. CWI (via cell wall integrity ) is a signaling cascade activated in yeast cells under conditions of cell wall stress and plays a role in the adaptation of various fungal pathogens in the human host . In many fungi , CWI is triggered by activation of protein kinase C ( PKC ) and that this pathway is associated with the transcription of genes related to maintaining the integrity of the cell wall and its redevelopment. In this work, a mutant Gly579Arg (G579R) was constructed by transformation mediated by inserting a gene replacement cassette comprising a G2044C transversion located in the cysteine-rich domain controller C1B pkcA of A. fumigatus. From the phenotypic analysis of the mutant strain was observed in the involvement of pkcAG579R CWI since the mutant showed high sensitivity to agents such as CR (congo red) and CFW (calcofluor white) . Furthermore, pkcA is also involved in tolerance to oxidative stress caused by paraquat and menadione. Additionally it was found to increase the sensitivity of the mutant pkcAG579R temperature variations as well as the inhibitor of Hsp90 radicicol. Como CWI is related to the transcriptional activation of biosynthetic genes and rugged cell wall (such as glucan synthase, glucanosil chitin synthases and transferases) the abundance of major genes coding for these enzymes was analyzed by RT-PCR in real time. Based on the tests can be α -1 ,3 glucan synthase ( agsA-C ) dependent signaling mediated PkcA for correct expression. Furthermore, genes such as β-1,3 glucan synthase (fksA) glucanosyltransferase (gelA-C) and some chitin synthases (chsB-E-C) appear not to be dependent function and CWI PkcA . These data demonstrated the role of pkcA signaling cascade in the maintenance of cell wall and thermotolerance in A. fumigatus. This work was the first in which a systematic analysis of gene pkcA was conducted in the human opportunistic fungal pathogen A. fumigatus. / Ao longo dos últimos anos, a ocorrência de infecções fúngicas humanas vem apresentando um aumento expressivo. Aspergillus fumigatus é um fungo filamentoso patógeno oportunista responsável por diversas doenças respiratórias humanas, incluindo aspergilose pulmonar invasiva, que é a forma de infecção mais grave. Estudos demonstram que o A. fumigatus possui um processo de virulência multifatorial associado a sua estrutura, capacidade de crescimento, adaptação em condições de estresse, mecânismos de evasão do sistema imune e capacidade de causar danos ao hospedeiro. A CWI (via de integridade da parede celular) é uma cascata de sinalização ativada nas células fúngicas sob condições de estresse de parede celular e desempenha um papel na adaptação de vários fungos patogênicos no hospedeiro humano. Em muitos fungos, CWI é desencadeada através da ativação da proteína quinase C (PKC) sendo que esta via está associada à transcrição de genes relacionados com a manutenção da integridade da parede celular e sua remodelação. Neste trabalho o mutante Gly579Arg (G579R) foi construído através da transformação mediada pela inserção de um cassete de substituição gênica que compreende uma transversão G2044C localizado no domínio regulador rico em cisteína C1B da pkcA de A. fumigatus. A partir da análise fenotípica desse mutante foi possível observar o envolvimento de pkcAG579R na CWI uma vez que a linhagem mutante mostrou alta sensibilidade a agentes como o CR (congo red) e CFW (calcofluor white). Além disso, pkcA está envolvido também na tolerância ao estresse oxidativo causado por menadiona e paraquat. Adicionalmente verificou-se o aumento da sensibilidade da linhagem mutante pkcAG579R à variações de temperatura bem como ao inibidor de Hsp90, radicicol. Como a CWI está relacionada à ativação transcricional de genes de biossíntese e reforço de parede celular (como por exemplo glucanas sintases, quitinas sintases e glucanosil transferases), a abundância dos principais genes que codificam essas enzimas foi analisada através de RTPCR em tempo real. Baseado nos testes pode-se verificar que as α-1,3 glucana sintase (agsA-C) dependem da sinalização mediada por PkcA para sua expressão. Por outro lado, genes como a β-1,3 glucana sintase (fksA), glucanosiltransferases (gelA-C) e algumas quitinas sintases (chsB-C-E) parecem não ser dependente da CWI e da função de PkcA. Esses dados demostraram parte do papel de pkcA na cascata de sinalização da manutenção da parede celular e termotolerância em A. fumigatus. Este trabalho foi o primeiro no qual uma análise sistemática do gene pkcA foi conduzida no fungo patógeno oportunista humano A. fumigatus.

Doctor of Philosophy / Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Interdepartmental Program / Anna Zolkiewska / Cancer cells exploit key signaling pathways in order to survive, proliferate, and metastasize. Understanding the intricacies of the aberrant signaling in cancer may provide new insight into how to therapeutically target tumor cells. The goal of my research was to explore the role of two modulators of transmembrane signaling, the secretory pathway and cell surface proteolysis, in the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells. To study the role of the secretory pathway, I focused on the family of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) chaperones. I found that several ER chaperones were upregulated in breast cancer cells grown under anchorage-independent conditions as mammospheres versus those grown under adherent conditions. Furthermore, certain members of the protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family were consistently upregulated in two different cell lines at both the mRNA and protein levels. Knocking down these PDIs decreased the ability of the cells to form mammospheres. I demonstrated that the requirement for PDI chaperones in mammosphere growth is likely due to an increased flux of extracellular matrix (ECM) components through the ER. Next, I examined the role of cell surface proteolysis in modulating the aggressiveness of breast cancer cells. Cell-surface metalloproteases release soluble growth factors from cells and activate the corresponding growth factor receptors. I determined that specific metalloproteases (ADAM9 or ADAM12), modulate the activation of Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR). I demonstrated that EGFR activation enhances the CD44⁺/CD24⁻ cell surface marker profile, which is a measure of cancer cell aggressiveness. I found that the MEK/ERK pathway, which is a downstream effector of EGFR activation, modulates the CD44⁺/CD24⁻ phenotype. When DUSP4, a negative regulator of the MEK/ERK pathway, is lost, activation of EGFR by metalloproteases no longer plays a significant role in cancer cell aggressiveness. This indicates that the ligand dependent activation of the EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway is a critical step in DUSP4-positive aggressive breast cancer. Finally, I examined the importance of metalloproteases in the regulation of Programmed-death ligand 1 (PD-L1), a transmembrane protein expressed by some cancer cells that plays a major role in suppressing the immune system. I demonstrated that cell-surface metalloproteases have the ability to cleave PD-L1 and release its receptor-binding domain to the extracellular environment. Collectively, these data indicate that (a) ER chaperones support anchorage-independent cell growth, (b) metalloproteases are important in regulation of an aggressive phenotype through the EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway, and (c) metalloproteases cleave PD-L1, a key component of immunosuppression in cancer.

Plaquetas apresentam um papel importante no desenvolvimento de metastases tumorais. Os eventos que levam à ativação plaquetária, como agragação e secreção de proteínas, podem significar etapas importantes neste papel. O agonista plaquetário trombospondina está envolvido no processo de agragação plaquetária. Com o intuito de clonar o receptor de trombospondina GpIIIb, produziu-se um soro policlonal contra uma banda eluída de SDS PAGE de extrato proteico de plaquetas, que apresentava peso molecular igual ao de GpIIIb (denominada banda 80kD). Uma biblioteca de cDNA de endotélio de cordão umbilical humano construída em lambda gt11 foi varrida com este soro anti-80kD. Dois clones diferentes foram isolados, seus insertos foram subclonados no vetor pGEM-3Z e sequenciados. Através de consulta ao Genbank observou-se que um dos clones não apresentou homologia significativa com nenhuma proteína até então clonada. O outro clone, por sua vez, apresentou 100% de homologia com a proteína 80K-H, substrato de proteína quinase C. Levando em consideração o fato de que as vias detransdução de sinal que utilizam PKC apresentam extrema importância nos processos de ativação plaquetária decidiu-se prosseguir com a caracterização de 80K-H. Para isto foi produzido um soro policlonal contra a proteína de fusão 80K-H, que foi utilizado em ensaios bioquímicos e imunoquímicos que permitiram caracterizar a proteína 80K-H quanto a alguns aspectos como distribuição em diferentes tipos celulares, localização celular e fosforilação. Além de estar presente em plaquetas, a proteína 80K-H foi encontrada em todas as linhagens celulares testadas, parecendo portanto ser uma proteína ubíqua. Os dados obtidos indicaram que, apesar de apresentar uma sequência N-terminal que é clivada \"in vivo\" muito semelhante a um peptídeo sinal, 80K-H não é secretada nem é de membrana plasmática, mas sim citoplasmática. Em ensaios de fosforilação \"in vivo\" não se detectou fosforilação de 80K-H. Portanto, apesar de 80K-H ser um bom substrato para PKC \"in vitro\", ela não o é \"in vivo\", ao menos nas células analisadas, ou é fosforilada de uma forma extremamente rápida e transiente. / Abstract not available.

A transmissão sináptica é essencial para o funcionamento do sistema nervoso. A neuromodulação permite regular esse processo de forma precisa. Um desses mecanismos modulatórios é a regulação da liberação de neurotransmissores. A adenosina é um importante modulador da transmissão sináptica. Além disso, a ativação do subtipo A2a dos receptores para adenosina está envolvida com a facilitação da liberação de neurotransmissores no sistema nervoso central. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar os efeitos modulatórios da ativação do receptor A2a de adenosina sobre a liberação de neurotransmissores e sua via de sinalização intracelular em modelo in vitro. Além disso, a tese contempla a construção histórica dos conceitos abordados no trabalho permitindo uma visão clara de sua evolução. Esse projeto foi o pioneiro no Brasil a utilizar o sensor biossintético fluorescente de liberação de vesículas sinápticas (supereclipse sinapto-pHluorina), o qual foi gentilmente cedido pelo professor Gero Miensenboeck do Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research. Nossos resultados demonstraram que o tratamento com o agonista do receptor A A2a de adenosina aumentou a fluorescência do supereclipse sinapto-pHluorina, assim como os níveis de glutamato e noradrenalina. Além disso, foi demonstrado que o inibidor da proteína cinase dependente de AMPc aboliu o aumento nos níveis do glutamato e noradrenalina, tal como a fosforilação da proteína sináptica sinapsina I evocado pelo agonista do receptor A2a de adenosina. Desta forma, nossos dados sugerem que a ativação do receptor A2a de adenosina em cultura de células do bulbo de ratos Wistar modula a liberação de neurotransmissores e a fosforilação da sinapsina I, assim como a proteína cinase dependente do AMPc pode ser o modus operandi desse fenômeno modulatório / Synaptic transmission is a sine qua non process for nervous system physiology. Such precise process is accomplished in part due to modulation of neurotransmitter release. Adenosine is a putative synaptic transmission modulator. Moreover, adenosine A2a receptor facilitates neurotransmitter release in the Central Nervous System. The present study focuses on the modulation of neurotransmission by adenosine A2a receptor and its intracellular signaling pathway in in vitro model. Here, we provided evidence that adenosine A2a receptor agonist increases an optical biosynthetic sensor of synaptic vesicle release (supereclipct synapto-pHluorin), as well as glutamate and noradrenaline. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor abolished glutamate and norepinephrin increase, as well as synapsin I phosphorylation evoked by adenosine A2a receptor agonist. Therefore, our data suggest that adenosine A2a receptor activation modulates neurotransmitter release and synapsin I phosphorylation in cultured cells from medulla oblongata of Wistar rats, as well as cAMP-dependent protein kinase might be the modus operandi of this modulatory phenomenon

No description available.

Abstract This study examined the role of tumor suppressor neurofibromin and Protein kinase C (PKC) in urinary bladder cancer, and the effect of PKC inhibitors on cancer cell behaviour. Tumor suppressor protein neurofibromin is a product of the NF1 gene, a mutation of which causes the most common hereditary tumor syndrome, type 1 neurofibromatosis. NF1 gene mutations and changes in expression have been demonstrated in malignancies, unrelated to type 1 neurofibromatosis. The best known function of neurofibromin is its Ras GTPase accelerating function. Thus, it functions as a Ras inactivator. This study demonstrated for the first time that the NF1 gene is expressed in normal and malignant urinary bladder epithelium and in cultured bladder carcinoma cells in mRNA and at the protein level. Furthermore, neurofibromin expression is decreased during bladder carcinogenesis. It can be speculated that this may lead to increased Ras activity in urinary bladder cancer. The PKC family is composed of several different isoenzymes which are responsible for a number of important intracellular events and cellular functions. Many of these are also important in cancer development and progression. The results demonstrate changes in expression of PKC α and βI isoenzymes in urinary bladder carcinoma. Furthermore, the results relate the increased expression of isoenzymes to increased PKC enzyme activity and the high proliferation rate of the cancer cells. In addition, this study utilizes small molecular inhibitors of PKC isoenzymes in order to study the effect of the inhibition of these isoenzymes on cancer cell behaviour in vitro and in vivo. The study mainly focuses on the function of PKC α and βI isoenzymes and on the effects of inhibition of these by using Go6976. The results show that Go6976 inhibits cancer cell growth, migration and invasion in vitro, and tumor growth in a mouse model. The use of Go6976 induces changes in desmosomes and adherens junctions, and in focal adhesions and hemidesmosomes. The results also show that Go6976 functions as a cell cycle checkpoint abrogator and increases the cytotoxicity of two classical chemotherapeutic agents, doxorubicin and paclitaxel. In the future, it may be possible that Go6976 or related drugs could be used in clinical cancer treatments.

The mortality of cardiovascular diseases remains high and it likely tends to increase in the future. Although many ways how to increase the resistance against myocardial ischemia- reperfusion damage have been described, few of them were transferred into clinical practice. Cardioprotective effect of chronic hypoxia has been described during 60s of the last century. Its detailed mechanism has not been elucidated, but a number of components has been identified. One of these components presents protein kinase C (PKC). The role of PKC was described in detail in the mechanism of ischemic preconditioning, but its involvement in the mechanism of cardioprotection induced by chronic hypoxia remains unclear. One reason is the amount of PKC isoforms, which have often contradictory effects, and the diversity of hypoxic models used. The most frequently mentioned isoforms in connection with cardioprotection are PKCδ and PKCε. The aim of my thesis was to analyze changes in these PKC isoforms at two different cardioprotective models of hypoxia - intermittent hypobaric (IHH) and continuous normobaric hypoxia (CNH). We also examined the target proteins of PKCδ and PKCε after the adaptation to IHH, which could be involved in the mechanism of cardioprotection. These included proteins associated with apoptosis and...

Orientadores: Licio Augusto Velloso, Marcio Alberto Torsoni / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Instituto de Biologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-07T11:00:58Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Oliveira_MaristelaCesquinide_D.pdf: 2056313 bytes, checksum: fe162225f6402886dd228faa021438b9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2006 / Resumo: O aumento da prevalência da obesidade e diabete tipo 2 nas sociedades modernas está fortemente associado às doenças cardiovasculares, hipertensão, infarto e aterosclerose. Estas patologias têm sido relacionadas com ingestão calórica excessiva e diminuição do gasto energético. Muitos fatores regulam a ingestão alimentar, incluindo hormônios como insulina e leptina, alimentos e comportamento. Estes fatores são integrados no hipotálamo que media um sistema de sinalização celular para regular o comportamento alimentar e o balanço energético da célula. A proteína quinase ativada por AMP (AMPK) tem sido proposta como capaz de mediar as adaptações celulares às variações nutricionais ambientais. O resultado da ativação da AMPK é a inibição de vias biossintetizantes que consomem energia, tais como as vias de síntese de ácidos graxos e proteínas, e a ativação de vias catabólicas, como a via de oxidação de ácidos graxos e a glicólise. No hipotálamo, a AMPK desempenha o papel de mediar os efeitos hormonais na ingestão alimentar e no balanço energético. Outras moléculas, como a acetil-CoA carboxilase (ACC) e o seu produto, o malonil-CoA têm sido propostas como possíveis intermediários na sinalização hipotalâmica que monitora o estado energético do corpo. No presente trabalho, nós administramos citrato, um ativador alostérico da ACC, no hipotálamo de ratos a fim de investigarmos o efeito deste composto na atividade hipotalâmica e hepática da AMPK. O resultado desta modulação no metabolismo energético, metabolismo de glicose e comportamento alimentar foi comparado aos ratos tratados com salina. Nós observamos que o tratamento com citrato inibiu a fosforilação da AMPK hipotalâmica seguido de inibição da fosforilação da ACC hipotalâmica, indicando menor atividade da AMPK neste tecido. A inibição da AMPK promoveu diminuição da ingestão alimentar, perda de peso corpóreo e aumento da expressão dos neuropeptídeos anorexigênicos POMC e CRH. No grupo de ratos tratados com citrato, a captação de glicose foi maior do que nos ratos que receberam solução salina, como mostrada pelo teste tolerância à glicose (GTT) e pelo clamp hiperinsulinêmico-euglicêmico. Consistente com estes resultados, no fígado, os ratos tratados com citrato mostraram maior fosforilação das proteínas da cascata de sinalização da insulina, reduzidos níveis de fosforilação da AMPK e ACC e expressão aumentada da PEPCK e G6Pase, se comparado aos animais controle. O efeito central do citrato na melhora da sinalização da insulina nos tecidos periféricos, na ativação da produção de glicose pelo fígado e na inibição da AMPK hepática foi bloqueado por antagonista ?-adrenérgico. De acordo com estes resultados, nós podemos sugerir que a modulação da AMPK por intermediários metabólicos possa ser um mecanismo importante de controle da homeostase energética e consequentemente do diabetes e obesidade / Abstract: The increased prevalence of obesity and type II diabetes in modern societies is largely linked to cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke and atherosclerosis. These pathologies have been associated to excessive caloric intake and decreased energy expenditure. Many factors regulate food intake, including hormones such as insulin and leptin, fuels and behavior. These factors are integrated in the hypothalamus that mediates a signaling system to regulate food behavior and cellular energy balance. The AMPactivated protein quinase (AMPK) has been proposed to be capable of mediating the cellular adaptations to nutritional environmental variation. The result of AMPK activation is the inhibition of nergy-consuming biosynthetic pathways, such as fatty acid and protein synthesis, and activation of ATP-catabolic pathways, such as fatty acid oxidation and glycolysis. In the hypothalamus, AMPK mediates hormonal effects on food intake and energy balance. Other molecules, such as acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) and its product malonyl-CoA have been proposed as possible intermediaries in the hypothalamic signaling pathway that monitors energy status. In the present work we administrated citrate, an allosteric activator of ACC, in the hypothalamus to investigate its effect on hypothalamic and hepatic AMPK activity and the result of this modulation in the energetic cellular metabolism, such as glucose metabolism and food behavior. Results were compared to saline-treated rats. Here we show that citrate treatment inhibited hypothalamic AMPK phosphorylation followed by an inhibition of hypothalamic ACC phosphorylation, indicating lower AMPK activity in this tissue. The AMPK inhibition promoted decrease in food intake, loss of body weight and increased expression of anorexigenic neuropeptides (POMC and CRH). In the citrate group, the glucose uptake was higher than in animals receiving saline according to GTT and hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Consistent with these results, in the liver, citrate-treated rats showed also higher phosphorylation of insulin signaling proteins than control rats, reduced AMPK and ACC phosphorylation and increased PEPCK and G6Pase expression. Supported by these results, we suggest that AMPK modulation by citrate can be an important mechanism to understand deregulated glucose metabolism involved in diabetes and obesity. The central effect of citrate in the improvement of peripheral insulin signaling, in the activation of liver glucose production, and in the inhibition of hepatic AMPK was blocked by the ?-adrenergic antagonist. According to these results, we suggest that AMPK modulation by metabolic intermediaries can be an important mechanism controlling the energetic homeostase, diabetes and obesity / Doutorado / Bioquimica / Doutor em Biologia Funcional e Molecular